Smoking device

ABSTRACT

An improved smoking device for metering a predetermined and selectively variable ratio of smoke and air to a smoker. An elongate cylindrical extension, including a filter cartridge, is connected to a mouthpiece for insertion within a smoke entry portion. The elongate cylindrical extension includes a radial locking means for engagement with a positioning means of the filter cartridge to prevent radial movement of the filter cartridge relative to the elongate cylindrical extension means; longitudinal mating means for holding the mouthpiece and smoke entry portion longitudinally while allowing relative rotational movement; circumferential engaging means cooperating with the radial locking means to allow the smoke and air inlets in the smoke entry portion to be held in axial alignment with a selected pair of orifices in an orifice metering plate; and means for urging the orifice metering plate into uninterrupted contact with the smoke inlet. The smoking device may advantageously include an improved cigarette ejection means.

United States Patent Chernack 1151 3,685,520 1451 Aug. 22, 1972 SMOKING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Milton P. Chernack, West Hem [21] Appl. No.: 111,490

g 521 US. c1...; .;.....l3l/182, 131/198 A a 51 Int. Cl ..A24r 05/04, A24f 13/10 [58] Field of Search ..131/182, 198, 198 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,653,049 12/1927 Larterm, ..131/182 2,124,130 7/1938 van Devanter ..131/198 A 2,607,354 8/1952 Wilson ..131/182 3,270,751 9/1966 Tucker ..131/198 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 499,817 3/1951 Belgium ..131/198 A 1,072,095 3/1954 France ..131 182 656,581 1/1929 France ..13l/l82 123,508 2/1919 Great Britain 131 182 497,284 9/1954 ltaly ..l3l/l82 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Att0mey-Bryan, Parmelee, Johnson & Bollinger [57] ABSTRACT An improved smoking device for metering a predetermined and selectively variable ratio of smoke and air to a smoker. An elongate cylindrical extension, including a filter cartridge, is connected to a mouthpiece for insertion within a smoke entry portion. The elongate cylindrical extension includes a radial locking means for engagement with a positioning means of the filter cartridge to prevent radial movement of the filter cartridge relative to the elongate cylindrical extension means; longitudinal mating means for holding the mouthpiece and smoke entry portion longitudinally while allowing relative rotational movement; circumferential engaging means cooperating with the radial locking means to allow the smoke and air inlets in the smoke entry portion to be held in axial alignment with a selected pair of orifices in an orifice metering plate; and means for urging the orifice metering plate into uninterrupted contact with the smoke inlet. The smoking device may advantageously include an improved cigarette ejection means.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 22, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet B %m m C P a 1 w R m M 4 SMOKING DEVICE cigarette holder. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved cigarette holder of the type for metering a predetermined and selectively variable ratio of smoke and air to a smoker.

Various smoking devices have been utilized to dilute the amount of smoke inhaled by the smoker. However, generally these devices do not control both the amount of air and smoke to meter a predetermined and selectively variable ratio of smoke and air to a smoker.

One such device for metering a predetermined and selectively variable ratio of smoke and air is disclosed in the US. Pat. No. 3,270,751 issued to Richard C. Tucker. This patent discloses a two element device having a smoke entry portion and mouthpiece with the same interconnected by a bolt and nut to provide relative rotation. The Tucker patent employs filter cigarettes so that the smoke is filtered before being mixed with air as it passes through the selected orifice of the orifice metering plate. There is no suggestion or disclosure of a filter cartridge and the improved structure of the present invention providing accurate metering when used in conjunction therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved smoking device wherein a filter cartridge containing an orifice metering plate is radially held in position to provide accurate matching between the selected pair of orifices and the smoke and air inlets in the smoke entryportion.

It is a further object to provide a smoking device having improved longitudinal mating means to maintain the smoke entry portion and mouthpiece interconnected for relative rotation.

It is a further object to provide an improved means for urging the orifice metering plate into contact with the smoke inlet of the smoke entry portion for uninterrupted accurate metering.

It is a still further object to provide an improved circumferential engaging means and radial locking means to provide precise axial alignment of the smoke and air inlets with the selected pair of orifices.

It is a still further object to provide a smoking device having an improved ejection means for dispensing used cigarettes.

Briefly, the present invention provides an improved smoking device including radial locking means capable of engagement with a positioning means associated with the filter cartridge to maintain the radial position of the orifice metering plate; means for urging the orifice metering plate into direct contact with the smoke inlet of the smoke entry portion, longitudinal mating means for maintaining the interconnected relationship of the smoke entry portion and mouthpiece; and improved circumferential engaging means capable of cooperating with the radial locking means to provide precise axial alignment of the smoke and air inlets with the selected pair of orifices.

Additionally, the present may include improved ejection means for dispensing used cigarettes.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent when the detailed description is considered with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the em-' bodiment shown in FIG. 1 as assembled;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an fexploded perspective view of another embodiment o the invention including an ejection means; 7

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 as assembled;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 showing the ejection means dispensing a used cigarette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the smoking device 10 is shown. The smoking'device 10 includes a mouthpiece 12 with an elongate cylindrical extension 14, a filter cartridge 16 including an; orifice metering plate 18, a smoke entry portion 20 and a ferrule 22' adapted for insertion within the smoke entry portion 20 g to circumferentially retain an inserted cigarette (not shown).

Referring also to FIG. 2, the smoking device 10 is shown as assembled. The filter cartridge 16 is inserted into the elongate cylindrical extension 14 and extends into the mouthpiece 12. The diameter of the elongate cylindrical extension 14 is slightly larger than the filter cartridge 16 for easy insertion therein.

The orifice metering plate 18 has a positioning means or longitudinally extending rib 24 integrally formed therewith. The elongate cylindrical extension 14 has a radial locking means or receiving slot 26 extending longitudinally from the front end 28 of the elongate cylindrical extension 14. Upon insertion of the filter cartridge 16 into the elongate cylindrical extension 14, the filter cartridge 16 is rotated until the positioning means 24 mates within the receiving slot 26, whereby the orifice metering plate 18 is held radially fixed relative to the elongate cylindrical extension 14 and mouthpiece 12 and capable of undergoing rotational movement therewith.

The smoke entry portion 20 is then press-fitted over the elongate cylindrical extension 14. The smoke entry portion 20 has a diameter slightly larger than that of the elongate cylindrical extension 14 and orifice metering plate 18 for readily mating thereover.

A receiving channel 30 is circumferentially arranged within the smoke entry portion 20 adjacent the rear 32 thereof. The receiving channel 30 is capable of mating with a peripheral ridge 34 circumferentially positioned adjacent the back end 36 of the elongate cylindrical extension 14. The longitudinal mating means 30 and 34 hold the mouthpiece l2 and smoke entry portion 20 longitudinally fixed while allowing relative rotation therebetween.

The ferrule 22 is arranged within the front end 38 of the smoke entry portion 20, being fixedly held therein.

Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembled smoking device provides direct engagement between the orifice metering plate 18 and a vertical wall 40 arranged in the smoke entry portion 20. The vertical wall 40 includes a smoke inlet 42 and an enlarged blind hole or air inlet 44.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the orifice metering plate 18 has a plurality of pairs of orifices, A-A', B- B, and C-C', respectively, as disclosed in the Tucker US. Pat. No. 3,270,751. Each orifice has its center positioned equidistant from the central axis 45 of the orifice metering plate 18 and has an equal angular spacing relative to adjacent pairs. Further, each orifice has a specific flow area relative to the other orifice in its pair to provide a predetermined ratio of flow areas for each pair of orifices and thus a predetermined ratio of air to smoke when a selected pair of orifices is axially aligned with the smoke inlet 42 and air inlet 44 in the vertical wall 40. (Orifice A is actually a false hole permitting no transmission of air or smoke therethrough.)

The orifice metering plate 18 is maintained in direct contact with the vertical wall 40 by resilient urging means or resilient arms 46 located at the front end 28 of the elongate cylindrical extension 14, thereby urging the selected pair-of orifices, e.g. A A', into direct contact with the smoke and air inlets 42 and 44 respective- 1y, forming conduits for the uninterrupted transmission of smoke and air therethrough. The vertical wall 40 is so positioned within the portion '20 as to leave a circumferential gap as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the inside surface 48 of the smoking entry device has a plurality of grooves 50, generally equal to the number of orifices, longitudinally arranged therein. One of said grooves 50 communicates with the air inlet 44 to transmit air to the one orifice of the selected pair of orifices, while smoke is being transmitted through the other orifice. As indicated in FIG. 2, air entering through the circumferential gap is adapted to pass between the outer periphery of the ridge 34 and the bottom of the channel 30. As seen in FIG. 4, an annular space is located between the members 14 and 20 so that ambient air can pass therethrough to the inlet 44 when a smoker draws on the mouthpiece 12.

Groove engaging means or deflectable tabs 52 are arranged on the elongate cylindrical extension 14. The deflectable tabs 52 mate within grooves 50, cooperating with theradial locking means 26, to angularly align the selected pair of orifices with the smoke and air inlets 42 and 44, respectively. The orifice metering plate 18 and the smoke entry portion 20 are held in a predetermined radial positionuntil the smoker desires to change the smoke to air ratio by rotating the mouthpiece 12 relative to the smoke entry portion 20 to align the smoke and air inlets 42 and 44, respectively, with another pair of orifices.

The smoke entry portion 20 further. includes a viewing aperture 51 which rotates therewith for exposing individual indicia 53, Le. 0-20-40-60-80-100, located on the elongate cylindrical extension 14 to provide the smoker with an indication of the percentage of smoke ,to air passing to the mouthpiece 12, e.g. 60 percent smoke and 40 percent air. Some of the air which enters through the above noted circumferential gap will pass through the aperture 51, and will flow to the inlet 44, in use.

During disassembly of the smoking device 10, the smoke entry portion 20 and mouthpiece 12 may be readily separated so that the filter cartridge 16 may be removed from the elongate cylindrical extension 14 when the orifices in the orifice. metering plate '18 become clogged or to inspect the filter material 54. It is therefore advantageous to utilize a transparent filter cartridge 16 for visual inspection of the filter material 54 positioned therein. If the filter material 54 is darkened due to tar and nicotine entrapment, the filter cartridge 16 may be discarded and a new filter cartridge inserted into the elongate cylindrical extension 14. The smoking device 10 is then reassembled and ready for-use.

mating with the peripheral ridge-34arranged on the elongate cylindrical extension 14 aspreviously described. The smoke entry portion 58 includes a longitudinally extending female element 60 capable of mating with an annular groove 62 formed in a spacing element 64. A spring 66 is adapted to be circumferentially positioned about the body portion 68 of the spacing element The spring 66 isretained between the end wall70 of the spacing element 64 and the bent walls 72 of a sleeve 74. The sleeve 74 is capable of being slidably positioned about the smoke entry 'portion 58 and spacer 64.

Referring to FIG. 6, the assembled smoking device 58 is shown including a filter cigarette 76. However, it I i should be understood the smoking device 58, as well as smoking device-l0, may be utilized with regular or J A vertical wall 78 formed in the smoke entry portion v 58 has a canted recess 80 formed therein leading to the smoke inlet 82, so that the engagement of the longitu dinally extending female element 60 with the annular groove 62 in the end wall 70 of the spacing element 64 will not obstruct the flow of smoke from the cigarette, 76 through the smoke inlet 82, see FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.

' The air inlet 84 formed in the vertical wall 78 communicates with one of the longitudinal slots 86 ar-' ranged on the inside surface 88 of the smoke entry portion 58-to provide a supply of air thereto as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

The smoke entry portion 58 also includes a viewing aperture 90 which rotates therewith for exposing individual indicia 53 located on the elongate cylindrical. extension 14 to provide the smoker with an indication mouthpiece 12, as previously described. The sleeve 74 Y also includes a mating hole 92 capable of being aligned 'of the percentage of. smoke to air passing to the Referring particularly to FIG. 9, the cigarette 76 may tive longitudinal movement between the spacing element 64, the smoke entry portion 58 and the mouthpiece 12 attached thereto, and the slidable sleeve 74. The relative movement is obtained by forcing the sleeve 74 to slide rearward over the mouthpiece 12 from its normal position 94, shown in dotted outline, and an eject position 96. The result of this relative movement is that the spring 66 is compressed between the bent walls 72 and end wall 70 allowing the body portion 68 of the spacing element 64 to move into dispensing engagement with the cigarette 76, dispensing the same from the sleeve 74. The smoking device 58 may be readily disassembled for replacement or cleaning of the filter cartridge 16 similarly to the disassembly of smoking device 10.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as described in the description and defined in the appended claims. What is claimed is: 1. Improved smoking device of the type for metering a predetermined and selectively variable ratio of smoke and air to a smoker, said smoking device including a cylindrical smoke entry portion having means providing an air inlet and a smoke inlet, a mouthpiece with a smoke withdrawal chamber, and a filter cartridge, wherein the improvement comprises:

an elongate cylindrical extension connected to said mouthpiece and extending longitudinally therefrom, said elongate cylindrical extension having a diameter slightly less than said smoke entry portion for insertion therein; said filter cartridge adapted for insertion into said elongate cylindrical extension and including a front portion having an orifice metering plate and an opposite portion having at least one hole arranged therein, whereby smoke and air may flow through said filter cartridge from said orifice me tering plate through said end portion, said filter cartridge also including a positioning means;

angular locking means associated with said elongate cylindrical extension for engagement with said positioning means to prevent angular movement of said filter cartridge relative to said elongate cylindrical extension; and

longitudinal retaining means for holding said mouthpiece and smoke entry portion longitudinally while allowing relative rotational movement, whereby said filter cartridge may be angularly fixed in said elongate cylindrical extension and said smoke receiving portion positioned therein and held longitudinally fixed, while said mouthpiece and said smoke entry portion are capable of undergoing relative rotational movement so that a selected pair of orifices in said orifice metering plate may be aligned with the smoke inlet and air inlet means in said smoke entry portion.

2. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said smoke entry portion has means providing a plurality of grooves longitudinally arranged on the in side surface thereof, said plurality of longitudinal slots being equal to the number of orifices in said orifice metering plate; and said elongate cylindrical extension includes groove engaging means for radial engagement with said groove means and cooperating with said radial locking means to allow said smoke inlet to be angularly held in axial alignment with the selected orifice in said orifice metering plate. 3. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said elongate cylindrical extension includes resilient means .for urging said orifice metering plate into contact with said smoke inlet means, whereby said smoke inlet and a selected orifice form an uninterrupted conduit for the transmission of smoke therethrough. 4. Improved smoking device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein:

said resilient urging means includes a plurality of resilient anns positioned for engagement'with said front portion of said filter cartridge. 5. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said longitudinal retaining means includes a peripheral ridge arranged circumferentially about said elongate cylindrical extension and means providing a mating circumferential recess within said smoke entry portion. 6. Improved smoking device as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said smoke entry portion includes means providing a viewing hole; and said elongate cylindrical extension has indicia circumferentially positioned thereon indicating the percentage of smoke to air being transmitted to the smoker, whereby when said mouthpiece and smoke entry portion are rotated relative to one another an individual indicia will be visible through said viewing hole means. 7. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said air inlet means is arranged for communication with one of said plurality of longitudinal slots, whereby air may be transmitted to said air inlet and mixed with the smoke entering through said selected orifice to provide the desired smoke to air ratio. 8. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 including:

means for ejecting a spent cigarette to allow said I said smoke inlet means is canted with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the device, to permit the flow of smoke into said smoke entry portion.

t II: R

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE ()Fv CORRECTION Patent No. 3,685,520 Dated August 22, 1972 Inventgx-(s) Milton P. Chernack It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent I and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:-

Column l line 63, after "present", insert invention Column 4, line 19, "14" should read l4 7 line 45, "78" should read 78' I v Signed and sealed this 8th day of May 1973. Q

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK I Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM'DC 6C376-P59 U.S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334, 

1. Improved smoking device of the type for metering a predetermined and selectively variable ratio of smoke and air to a smoker, said smoking device including a cylindrical smoke entry portion having means providing an air inlet and a smoke inlet, a mouthpiece with a smoke withdrawal chamber, and a filter cartridge, wherein the improvement comprises: an elongate cylindrical extension connected to said mouthpiece and extending longitudinally therefrom, said elongate cylindrical extension having a diameter slightly less than said smoke entry portion for insertion therein; said filter cartridge adapted for insertion into said elongate cylindrical extension and including a front portion having an orifice metering plate and an opposite portion having at least one hole arranged therein, whereby smoke and air may flow through said filter cartridge from said orifice metering plate through said end portion, said filter cartridge also including a positioning means; angular locking means associated with said elongate cylindrical extension for engagement with said positioning means to prevent angular movement of said filter cartridge relative to said elongate cylindrical extension; and longitudinal retaining means for holding said mouthpiece and smoke entry portion longitudinally while allowing relative rotational movement, whereby said filter cartridge may be angularly fixed in said elongate cylindrical extension and said smoke receiving portion positioned therein and held longitudinally fixed, while said mouthpiece and said smoke entry portion are capable of undergoing relative rotational movement so that a selected pair of orifices in said orifice metering plate may be aligned with the smoke inlet and air inlet means in said smoke entry portion.
 2. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said smoke entry portion has means providing a plurality of grooves longitudinally arranged on the inside surface thereof, said plurality of longitudinal slots being equal to the number of orifices in said orifice metering plate; and said elongate cylindrical extension includes groove engaging means for radial engagement with said groove means and cooperating with said radial locking means to allow said smoke inlet to be angularly held in axial alignment with the selected orifice in said orifice metering plate.
 3. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said elongate cylindrical extension includes resilient means for urging said orifice metering plate into contact with said smoke inlet means, whereby said smoke inlet and a selected orifice form an uninterrupted conduit for the transmission of smoke therethrough.
 4. Improved smoking device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein: said resilient urging means includes a plurality of resilient arms positioned for engagement with said front portion of said filter cartridge.
 5. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said longitudinal retaining means includes a peripheral ridge arranged circumferentially about said elongate cylindrical extension and means providing a mating circumferential recess within said smoke entry portion.
 6. Improved smoking device as recited in claim 1 wherein: said smoke entry portion includes means providing a viewing hole; and said elongate cylindrical extension has indicia circumferentially positioned thereon indicating the percentage of smoke to air being transmitted to the smoker, whereby when said mouthpiece and smoke entry portion are rotated relative to one another an individual indicia will be visible through said viewing hole means.
 7. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said air inlet means is arranged for communication with one of said plurality of longitudinal slots, whereby air may be transmitted to said air inlet and mixed with the smoke entering through said selected orifice to provide the desired smoke to air ratio.
 8. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 including: means for ejecting a spent cigarette to allow said smoking device to receive another cigarette.
 9. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 1 including: a spacer arranged for mating engagement with said smoke entry portion; a sleeve slidably positioned about said spacer and said smoke entry portion for rotational movement therewith, said sleeve capable of being longitudinally moved relative thereto; and biasing means engaging said spacer and said sleeve for moving said spacer and said smoke entry portion relative to said sleeve after ejection of a cigarette.
 10. Improved smoking device as claimed in claim 9 wherein: said smoke inlet means is canted with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the device, to permit the flow of smoke into said smoke entry portion. 